Hon. Gary Bashor

Gary Bashor is a judge on the Cowlitz Superior Court in Washington, having been appointed to the position in 2011 by Democratic Governor Christine Gregoire and re-elected in 2016. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Lewis & Clark College and his J.D. from Lewis & Clark School of Law in 1983. Bashor began his legal career as a staff attorney at C. Michael McLean P.S. in 1984, where he handled bankruptcy, estate planning, and family law matters. He later established a private civil and criminal practice that focused on family law, juvenile court, mental health defense, and bankruptcy cases. In 1999 he was appointed as a Cowlitz County Superior Court commissioner, a role he held until his judicial appointment. Throughout his career, Bashor has specialized in domestic violence, juvenile, and therapeutic court cases, and has led initiatives to revitalize drug courts and improve court technology. He chairs the State Judges Technology Committee and serves on the steering committee for a statewide computer court management system, advocating for increased access to the courts for all citizens.